Accord Party hails Appeal Court judgment overturning deregistration order

The Accord Party has welcomed the Court of Appeal judgment setting aside the Federal High Court ruling that directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the party and four others.

The party described the appellate court’s decision as a victory for democracy, the rule of law and due process, saying it had restored confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.

In a statement issued by its National Chairman, Barr. Maxwell Mgbudem, Accord said the earlier judgment of the Federal High Court was a calculated attempt to undermine Nigeria’s jurisprudence and participatory democracy.

According to the party, the Court of Appeal’s verdict has reaffirmed the confidence of Nigerians in the judiciary as the last hope of the common man.

“The Court of Appeal ruling is indeed sweet music in the ears of all lovers of representative governance in Nigeria. It is also a powerful signal that anti-democratic and reactionary forces will be defeated if citizens stand up for their rights to democratic participation,” the statement read.

Accord further alleged that the suit was intended to prevent Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke from participating in the August 15 governorship election.

The party claimed that the failure of what it described as a “judicial plot” would be followed by the defeat of the opposition in the forthcoming governorship poll.

“We are aware that the intention of this frivolous, spurious and defective suit was to distract, prevent and stop the Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, from participating in the August 15 gubernatorial election in the state.

“The way this grand judicial plot failed is the way the opposition in Osun State will also fail, as the party will again emerge victorious in the polls,” the statement added.

Accord maintained that it had fulfilled all legal requirements for its registration and had won elections that were presented before the court, arguing that it should not have been included in the suit instituted by the plaintiffs.

The party also expressed appreciation to Nigerians who, it said, condemned the Federal High Court judgment and supported its position irrespective of political affiliations.

“There is no doubt that Accord’s growing national acceptance is a threat to unpatriotic elements in society, particularly in Osun State, the party’s stronghold,” the statement said.